Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillors Barnes, Reid and Thornton.  Councillor McCloskey was in attendance as substitute for Councillor Barnes.

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To approve the minutes of the last meeting held on 10 April 2015

The minutes of the Licensing Committee held on 10 April 2015 were approved and signed as a true record.

·         1 May 2015 – Sandford Parks Lido

The minutes of the Licensing Sub Committee meeting held on 1 May 2015 were approved and signed as a true record.

Report of the Licensing Officer

The Business Support and Licensing Team Leader, Louis Krog, introduced the report regarding a new application from Mr Richard Warwick in respect of The County Kitchen, 6-8 Grosvenor Street, Cheltenham, seeking permission to place 2 tables and 4 chairs on the pavement outside the premises.  In addition, the applicant had also requested that the requirement for barriers around the tables and chairs be disapplied due to pavement width constraints.  The Officer informed members that it was intended that the tables and chairs be put out Monday to Saturday from 08:00 to 17:00 and advised that the proposed structures could be seen at Appendix A, with a location plan at Appendix B.

The officer informed members that no objections had been received from interested parties or neighbours and that the Planning Enforcement Officer, whilst making some comments, supported this licence request which he felt would benefit business in this part of the town.

Members were advised that having considered all the relevant information, they needed to decide, in accordance with the current Street Scene Policy, whether to approve this application, together with the request not to have barriers.

To clarify questions from members, the officer confirmed that if a canvas barrier was put up all around, this would reduce the width of the pavement to less than the recommended 1.8 metres, however the applicant was happy to partially comply by putting barriers at each end.  One member did observe that barriers would show that there was an obstruction on the highway.

The applicant, Mr Warwick was invited to address the committee.  He informed members that County Kitchen opened in April 2015, was a privately owned business, not a franchise, and that as a resident of Cheltenham for over 37 years, he was committed to working for the good of the town and part of his corporate social responsibility would be to source local suppliers and enhance the local community by providing a family friendly venue.  Mr Warwick also informed members that he donated food to Cheltenham Open Door and meals to the voluntary sector and YMCA.  He was keen to create a vibrant community and hub of retailers in this area of town and felt that tables and chairs outside his premises would give a welcoming and good first impression for people using the nearby car park and for day trippers being dropped off at that end of town.  Mr Warwick was aware that previous businesses at this address had not been successful, but he was determined to make this work and since opening only six weeks ago, he could already report business growth and felt that if the committee would support his application this would help to accelerate his business turnover.

He referred to the pictures of the tables and chairs that had been temporarily placed on the highway for the sake of the photographs and, in his opinion, he felt there was plenty of room to pass even with a pram and a pedestrian.  He confirmed that barriers  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

That in accordance with Section 100A(4) Local Government Act 1972 the public be excluded from the meeting for the remaining items of business as it is likely that, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, if members of the public are present there will be disclosed to them exempt information as defined in paragraph 1, 2 and 7, part 1 Schedule 12A (as amended) Local Government Act 1972, namely:

Information relating to any individual,

Information which is likely to reveal the identity of an individual,

Information relating to any action taken or to be taken in connection with the prevention, investigation or prosecution of crime.

RESOLVED THAT in accordance with Section 100A(4) Local Government Act 1972 the public be excluded from the meeting for the remaining items of business as it is likely that, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, if members of the public are present there will be disclosed to them exempt information as defined in paragraph 1, 2 and 7, part 1 Schedule 12A (as amended) Local Government Act 1972, namely:

-       Information relating to any individual,

-       Information which is likely to reveal the identity of an individual,

-       Information relating to any action taken or to be taken in connection with the prevention, investigation or prosecution of crime.

To approve the exempt minutes of 10 April 2015

The exempt minutes from the Licensing Committee held on 10 April 2015 were approved and signed as a true record.

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3 July 2015

3 July 2015